Colin Firth and Cate Blanchett are set to star in Barbra Streisand’s “Skinny and Cat,” the actress’s return to directing after sixteen years (1996’s “The Mirror Has Two Faces” was preceded by “Prince of Tides” in 1991 and “Yentl” in 1983). The epic love story, written by Linda Yellen (who is also producing) is about writer Erskine Caldwell (Firth) and photojournalist Margaret Bourke White (Blanchett). “Gypsy” is still in Streisand’s back pocket, but “Skinny and Cat” will gear up in January.

Blanchett is busy with Terrence Malick’s two upcoming films, “Knight of Cups” and the one formerly titled “Lawless,” as well as “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” and “The Hobbit: There and Back Again.” She also has John Crowley’s “Carol” in the works and is attached to Woody Allen’s untitled next film. Firth’s fling with writers the Coen Brothers and co-star Cameron Diaz, “Gambit,” hits theaters October 12, and the actor has a handful of other projects in various stages of production, including Jonathan Teplitzky’s “The Railway Man” and Atom Egoyan’s “Devil’s Knot.”